used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
speak to
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was only a card,--but not an ordinary printed Christmas card.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
applenounUS /ˈæpəl/
fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
arm-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was only a card,--but not an ordinary printed Christmas card.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
Christmassy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
cuddledverbUS /ˈkʌdəld/
past form of “cuddle” — move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
exquisitelyadverbUS /ˌekˈskwɪzɪtli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only a card,--but not an ordinary printed Christmas card.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was only a card,--but not an ordinary printed Christmas card.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
on one occasion
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only a card,--but not an ordinary printed Christmas card.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading It was only a card,--but not an ordinary printed Christmas card.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
coated with paint
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
PattynounUS /ˈpæti/
small flat mass of chopped food
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
printedverbUS /ˈprɪntɪd/
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading It was only a card,--but not an ordinary printed Christmas card.
established beyond doubt
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
Identical; not different.
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
spraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading A CHRISTMAS CARD Once safely behind her locked door, Patty tore open her blue envelope.
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
the topmost one of two
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
precisely as stated
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was only a card,--but not an ordinary printed Christmas card.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But it proved to be not very Christmassy, after all; for this is what she read:
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a little sigh of pleasure, Patty cuddled up in her arm-chair to read the Christmas message.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading In the upper corner was a spray of apple blossoms, exquisitely painted; and on the card were some verses, written in a hand that was small and fine, but unmistakably the same as the address on the outside of the envelope.
